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Sarah hugged her tightly and then stepped back

Then Shea took her through every single one of the Kelly brothers, all of who the at people

When she got to the end, there was an older couple, their smiles as warm as the sun

"And these two people are the most wonderful people in the world," Shea breathed "I want you to meet Marlene and Frank Kelly Or Mama and Papa Kelly, as they are often referred to They spawned all those Kelly boys plus picked upthe way" She pointed in the direction of two men to the side "Those are Sean and Swanny, two of Marlene’s adoptees"

"You poor dear," Marlene said as she enfolded Grace in a hug "You’ve been through so h to overwhelm anyone But welcome to our fah he’d probably twitch at the thought He’s just as ave birth to"

"Thank you," Grace whispered

As soon as Marlene released her, Frank enfolded her into a huge hug She’d never felt so loved as she did right now, surrounded by all these people Fa on Frank’s other si19;s othde was a young woman that he pulled forward "This is Rusty She’s a Kelly too The only Kelly sister to the horde of boys"

Rusty’s face lit up and Grace could swear her eyes glistened with tears at the way Frank introduced her

"She’s going to UT," Marlene said, bea with pride

"Welcoed Grace "It’s pretty crazy and overwhelaze softened as she stared at her fa her "But it’s the very best kind of crazy"

"Let’s all go inside," Marlene suggested "We have a wedding to get ready for I’m sure Grace is tired fro to eat We’re only down to a few hours, girls Better get on the stick"

Everyone dissolved into laughter and then there was a chorus of "yes ma’ams" all around

"NATHAN, Rio, I need to see you both for a moment," Sa together talking in Sa for the ceremony, turned in Sam’s direction

Rio frowned "What’s up?"

He motioned them away and they stepped onto the wooden deck that overlooked the lake in the distance

"Resnick wanted to come I told him no"

"What the hell? Shouldn’t he still be in the hospital anyway?" Nathan asked

Saed "Probably, but I think he was more afraid to stay where he was vulnerable He’d rather risk getting out so he can protect himself from any assassination attempts"

"You didn’t tell him about Grace"

It didn’t come out as a question Rio said it fiercely,

"I told him what Hancock put in his report That she died," Sam said quietly "Which is why I wouldn’t allow him here If he does ever come into contact with Shea, she can’t let on that Grace is alive It’s not that I don’t trust him--I don’t fully--but I don’t want any leaks where Grace is concerned and I know you don’t either, Rio"

"Fuck no," Rio growled

"He was devastated when I told him Grace had died He feels responsible He’s tried to protect the suspected that he’s their biological brother or at least half brother Chances are Grace and Shea aren’t even full-blooded sisters and maybe not even half sisters"

"It doesn’t matter to them," Nathan said quietly

"Yes, I know But I wanted to tell you both Rio, you’ll need to get Grace out soon after the cere no for an answer"

Rio nodded

Saed Rio on the shoulder "And hey, lad she saved your sorry ass"

Rio smiled faintly because he still couldn’t think about what she’d done without a cold fist clutching his gut The thought of losing her, even so many weeks later, sent him into an instant sweat

Just as they reentered the house, Marlene swept into the living rooet this show on the road Places everyone Outside Shoo shoo"

The ood-naturedly fled outdoly fled ors

It was a wedding fit for the lifestyle of KGI to a T Although outdoors, the area where the cere held was between Sae, bulletproof glass barriers had been erected, one facing the lake and the other facing the building referred to as the War Rooet theh that no one took security lightly Marlene had insisted on draping flowers from one end of the bulletproof barriers to the other There was an awning with flowering vines from top to bottom, and rows of chairs lined the pathway from the house to the archhere the preacher waited

Rio ushered Grace into the back row and sat next to the open pathway, placing Grace on his other side The wedding was s attendants, but they’d iirl into the fold and declaring that she had to be the flower girl for the occasion Elizabeth had been so excited that she’d fairly danced down the aisle, sprinkling rose petals and honeysuckle as she went

Nathan and Garrett waited at the end and sently as Elizabeth took her place next to them Then Shea and Sarahenough to light the darkest night

Rio stared around hi it all in He squeezed Grace’s hand, his heart so full of love that he could barely get out what he wanted to say

"Do you think we can do this one day?" he whispered

She cocked her head to the side and eyed hi ed He looked almost nervous "If I were, ould you say?"

She s, if you were to, I don’t know, propose to me, I’d probably have to think about it for a while, but since this is all hypothetical, it’s hard to know exactly what I’d do"

He frowned at her "You just like to tortureyou to lanced around At all the love, the unconditional love and support of the Kelly family "I want this," he said in a quiet voice "I hat they have I want us to be family, Grace You, row up playing together I want to know that if so ever happens to me, you’ll have the is a lot You’d give up a lot I’ll always be overprotective of you and Elizabeth and any other children we have We’ll live in isolation in my home in Belize, where it’s a veritable prison You’ve had to become a different person, and you won’t be able to just pop over to your sister’s for a visit whenever you